# NTSB ERA24LA063: Cessna 150L, N1707Q, Lajas, PR, December 10, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 10, 2023, 21:50 UTC
- Place: Lajas, PR
- Coordinates: 18.010856, -67.069085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0109&lon=-67.0691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193511
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193511/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193511
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA063

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from bushes alongside the runway, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was taking off from the private airstrip. Shortly after liftoff, the right wing of the airplane impacted bushes alongside of the narrow turf runway. As a result of the impact, the airplane yawed to the right. The pilot attempted to pull back on the yoke, but lost control and the airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1707Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1707Q), registered now, S/N 15073007, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15073007
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 19348.7
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2023, 91 hours before
- Destination: TJPS, Ponce, PR
- Airport: PR25, Lajas Airpark, runway 17/35, 2,866 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,312 total, 4,300 in this make and model, 18,092 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: TJPS, 30 nm away
- METAR: METAR TJPS 102135Z AUTO 09006KT 10SM FEW027 BKN037 OVC050 28/22      A2991 RMK AO2 PWINO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20231210020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231210020499A), Dec 10, 2023: Cessna 150L, Lajas, PR, Substantial damage. On Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 17:50 local time (2150 zulu), the pilot and a passenger were departing from an uncharted airfield at the municipality of Lajas…

## Other investigations on N1707Q (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA76DKA06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76DKA06), May 16, 1976: Cessna 150L (N1707Q), Moca, PR, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA74FKA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74FKA07), Dec 9, 1973: Cessna 150 (N1707Q), Humacao, PR, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193511. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16555492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA063%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16556017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA063%20ROC%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16556264&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA063%20photo%20array-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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